Are Weddings Going to the Dogs?

Lucy says, "I do"

People love pets. Well most people, and some more than others. At Second Chance Humane Society we like to promote this adoration – because loving pet parents make responsible pet parents. However, one might ask where you draw the line on loving a pet? For instance, a twenty-two year old Australian man recently took his love to another level by marrying his dog. (The announcement read that he and his pet dog of five years, a Golden Labrador called Honey, were married in a creative and light-hearted way of bringing together family and friends. The “Groom” stated that while he loves his dog, it is “just Plutonic love.”)

At Second Chance we promote the concept of pets being considered part of the family. But what exactly does this mean – and how far should you take it? My name is Lucy, one of the dogs at the Second Chance Shelter waiting for my wedding, I mean adoption, and my commentary on this subject follows.

Pets, particularly dogs and cats, are very social creatures and the more we are incorporated into the lives of our adoptive families the more peaceful, adjusted, relaxed and well behaved we become. We want to feel useful, respected, included and loved, until death do us part. Looking at it this way I am not sure how this differs from a marriage but I do feel that the signed adoption agreement required to adopt me covers this just fine.

Similar to marrying a spouse, adopting a pet means that you are prepared to accept and work on challenges and “disagreements” that occur in the process of living together. If a member within the relationship does not like particular behaviors of another, barking or toilet bowl drinking for example, than solutions and adjustments, such as proper exercise and putting down the toilet bowl lid, must occur.

I am not promoting that adoptions take the true form of marriages and that adopters have to get down on one knee to ask a pet to come home with them. But some level of commitment to accept pets as an important part of the family would be a wonderful shift in the human-pet bond and very likely decrease the number of homeless pets throughout the planet.

That said, I would make a lovely partner to anyone seeking a sleek, lovely, active, fun-loving lass. Although I am not much of a cook I will nibble your ears affectionately and make you feel appreciated and irreplaceable. Come propose (an adoption) today!

Call the Second Chance Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter Financial Assistance, Volunteer & Foster Care, or other Programs. Visit our shelter pets online: www.secondchancehumanesociety.org. Direct Pet Column questions to: kelly@secondchancehumanesociety.org. Photo by Real Life Photographs.